Press Release

Representatives Marsha Blackburn (TN-7) and Todd Rokita (IN-4) today fought back against burdensome regulations being imposed on American ceiling fan manufacturers by the Department of Energy (DOE).Blackburn and Rokita secured a provision in H.R. 2609, the Fiscal Year 2014 Energy and Water Appropriations Bill, that would prevent any funds from being used by DOE to finalize, implement, or enforce the proposed “Standards Ceiling Fans and Ceiling Fan Light Kits” rule.

Ceiling fans and ceiling fan light kits already face existing regulations set in place by the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPACT 2005). These existing provisions burden the ceiling fan industry with ineffective mandates. However, on March 11, 2013, the Department of Energy (DOE) released a 101-page rulemaking framework document evaluating potential energy-savings requirements on ceiling fans through new regulations. The new regulations being considered by DOE would significantly impair the ability of ceiling fan manufacturers to produce reasonably priced, highly decorative fans. These regulations would not only place a higher price tag on less aesthetically pleasing designs but could increase homeowners’ reliance on other cooling systems that consume more electricity.

“First, they came for our health care, then they took away our light bulbs, and raided our nation’s most iconic guitar company -- now they are coming after our ceiling fans. Nothing is safe from the Obama administration’s excessive regulatory tentacles,” Blackburn said. “These regulations extend into the homes of American families, raise cost for consumers, and kill the ability of our manufacturers to grow and create jobs. Enough is enough.

“These new regulations will curb increased consumer trends, which currently include placing ceiling fans in laundry rooms, closets and master bathrooms. In short, new DOE regulations will increase energy use, decrease consumer choice, and increase the price tag for less aesthetically pleasing designs which could price some consumers out of the energy efficiency market which hurts the overall goal of energy savings.”

Rokita added: “The disregard the Obama Energy Department bureaucrats have for the practical implications of their red tape is outrageous. Instead of enacting policies to ensure Americans have access to abundant, affordable energy—the life blood of our economy—they are issuing regulations attacking ceiling fans, the most energy efficient cooling devices on the market. These counterproductive regulations will only drive up the prices of ceiling fans and encourage the use of less energy efficient cooling systems. This is yet another example of this administration double dipping in the pockets of Americans: using taxpayer dollars to raise prices on consumers.”

Note: Ceiling fans are energy saving appliances, which can save up to 14% on energy used to cool a home and can save homeowners as much as 40 percent on their air conditioning bills by creating a breeze that makes the room temperature feel eight degrees cooler.
Read the full text of the Blackburn/Rokita Ceiling Fan Amendment here.